Chapter 10: The Woman Who Was Supposed to Be Dead
"Your father's first wife.""
Those four words echoed through my mind long after Evelyn Brooks ended the call.
I looked at Raymond.
"Patricia Wells was married to Dad?""
He nodded slowly.
"Before your mother. They divorced years before Danielle and Marcus met.""
"Then why was she involved in Mom's trust?""
Raymond pulled out a chair.
"Because Patricia was a lawyer. Your mother hired her firm to prepare some of the original estate documents. At the time, Danielle believed she could trust her.""
Elise's expression hardened.
"She shouldn't have.""
My father was standing near the office door, his face drained of color.
"Patricia has nothing to do with this.""
I turned toward him.
"Then why did she sign the documents?""
He didn't answer.
I picked up my phone and called Evelyn back.
She answered immediately.
"Miss Carter, are you still with the individuals involved in the documents?""
"Yes. My father is here. So is my uncle and Elise Monroe.""
"Good. I need everyone to remain available. We've identified Patricia Wells as a central figure in the original financial transactions.""
Elise moved closer.
"Ms. Brooks, I'm Elise Monroe. I was Danielle Carter's business partner. What exactly did Patricia do?""
"We believe she coordinated several transfers through a network of accounts established under different business names. Some of those accounts received payments from the trust. Others received money from the sale of a commercial property.""
My mouth went dry.
"So she stole my mother's money?""
"That's what we're investigating. But there's another complication. Patricia Wells was reported dead last year.""
Raymond looked at me.
"Reported?""
Evelyn continued.
"There was an incident involving a vehicle discovered near Savannah. The authorities initially believed the driver was Patricia Wells. However, the identification was never conclusively established. A memorial notice was published, but no verified death certificate was issued.""
I gripped the phone.
"You're saying she's alive?""
"We have reason to believe she is.""
My father suddenly spoke.
"That's impossible.""
Evelyn paused.
"Mr. Carter, are you familiar with her current location?""
"No.""
His answer came too quickly.
Raymond folded his arms.
"Marcus, look at me.""
My father remained silent.
"You knew Patricia was alive, didn't you?""
"I haven't spoken to her in years.""
"That's not what I asked.""
Vanessa walked into the room.
"Can everyone stop interrogating him?""
Elise turned.
"Your name appears on the financial transfers. Perhaps you should be more concerned about explaining those.""
Vanessa placed her handbag on the desk.
"Marcus did what he believed was necessary. Patricia handled the legal details.""
I slowly turned toward her.
"So Patricia helped you take the money?""
Vanessa closed her eyes.
"She told us how to move it without triggering the bank's restrictions.""
My father snapped.
"Vanessa!""
But it was too late.
Everyone had heard her.
Evelyn's voice came through the speaker.
"Mrs. Carter, I'd like you to repeat that statement.""
Vanessa stepped backward.
"I didn't say anything.""
"You just stated that Patricia Wells advised you on transferring restricted trust funds.""
"I was speaking generally.""
"Then I suggest you be very careful with your next statement.""
Vanessa sat down.
I looked at my father.
"How long have you been working with Patricia?""
He sank into a chair.
"After your mother died, she contacted me.""
"Why?""
"She said Danielle had made financial arrangements that could ruin us.""
I stared.
"Mom was trying to protect me.""
"She didn't understand our situation.""
"She understood perfectly. That's why she created the trust.""
My father rubbed his eyes.
"Patricia said there was a way to access the money temporarily. She promised we could replace everything before you turned eighteen.""
"And the death certificate?""
His silence answered me.
Elise stepped forward.
"Marcus, who arranged the false death record?""
He shook his head.
"Patricia.""
My stomach twisted.
"Did you know what you were signing?""
He looked at me.
"I knew it wasn't legitimate.""
I couldn't breathe.
He continued, his voice barely audible.
"I didn't know the full extent of what she planned.""
I stared at him.
"You signed a document declaring your daughter dead. What part of that didn't you understand?""
His eyes filled.
"I was desperate.""
I turned away.
I had heard that word too many times.
Desperate.
It was the excuse people used when they wanted forgiveness without accountability.
Evelyn asked for my father's phone number and informed him that investigators would contact him directly.
Then she said something that changed everything.
"We've located a storage facility connected to Patricia Wells. A recent payment was made from an account associated with the Danielle Carter Design Trust.""
Elise stiffened.
"What's being stored there?""
"We don't know yet. But we recovered a photograph from one of the facility's cameras.""
A picture appeared on my phone.
It showed a woman entering a storage building.
She wore a dark coat and large sunglasses.
But I recognized her.
The same woman from Raymond's security footage.
The same woman I'd believed was dead.
Patricia Wells.
Evelyn's voice became serious.
"Miss Carter, there's something inside that storage unit you need to see.""
"What?""
"A package addressed to you. It was delivered six weeks ago.""
I looked at the date.
It was delivered shortly before the competition application was submitted.
"What's inside?""
Evelyn hesitated.
"Your mother's original business ledger. And a handwritten note.""
I swallowed.
"What does the note say?""
There was a pause.
Then Evelyn answered.
The girl must never see what Danielle left behind.
I looked at my father.
He was already reaching for his phone.
May you like
And when Vanessa saw the number displayed on his screen, she whispered:
"Marcus, don't call her.""
